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State Bar and TYLA outline free resources and wellness support for newly admitted Texas lawyers
Summary
State Bar of Texas and the Texas Young Lawyers Association highlighted free research services, practice tools and confidential mental-health support available to new members, and encouraged participation in mentorship and pro bono work.
Steve Benesh, president of the State Bar of Texas, and Hesham Masri, president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, used the induction ceremony to outline member benefits and wellness resources for newly admitted attorneys.
Benesh told the class the bar provides “free legal research through VLEX Fastcase, free billing and trust accounting software through Smoke Ball, a career center, a free attorney ethics helpline,” and other services. He also urged new lawyers to “identify mentors” and to participate in pro bono activities.
Benesh emphasized mental-health resources, saying, “If there’s 1 thing that you take away from my words today, it is that help is always available.” He described the Texas Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) as “a strictly confidential service that includes crisis counseling, referrals, peer assistance, and general well-being guidance,” and noted a free month of online mental-health therapy through BetterHelp followed by a discount if continued.
Hesham Masri, president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and an in‑house attorney at FlowServe, described TYLA as “the public service arm of the State Bar of Texas” and highlighted a TYLA checklist for first-year attorneys, podcasts, a wellness hub and a Texas law student hub. He encouraged new admittees to visit the TYLA table after the ceremony and to use the resources to support early-career practice.
Both leaders framed the resources as practical supports for new lawyers entering private practice, government, nonprofit and corporate roles. They urged new admittees to join State Bar sections or TYLA projects to build professional networks and access mentorship and pro bono opportunities.
